IGP Releases Security Arrangement For Ondo Gov Election, Deploys 34,657 Personnel

By Ayodele Oni

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetoku, has released details of Security Personnel to be deployed for next Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state.

Speaking on Thursday in Akure, the IGP, represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG) Sylvester Abiodun, assured readiness for the elections and disclosed the deployment of over 34,657 police officers to secure all 18 local government areas.

Egbetokun had earlier on Thursday announced that 22,239 officers would be deployed to maintain security across the State before, during, and after the November 16 election.

He spoke through the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 17, Abiodun Asabi.

However on Friday, Egbetokun said, “A detailed Operation Order for the election has been prepared with adequate Police personnel to be deployed.

“The Nigeria Police will deploy a total of 34,657 personnel to the polling units, wards/LGA collation centers as well as other strategic locations.

“It is expected that Four Police personnel will be deployed at each polling unit, which then implies that 15,732 conventional police personnel will be required for the 3,933 polling units and voting points in the State.

“This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies.

“A total of Eight thousand, five hundred  personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will be deployed to augment the Police strength.

“This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies.”

The IGP who barred state owned security outfit from participating in the Edo governorship poll was, however, silent on the role of the South West Security Network, code named Amotekun.